Small Business Saturday, which highlights the importance of small businesses, takes place on December 6.

Lady Bakewell-Park, based in Manningtree, which produces baked goods using locally-sourced ingredients wherever possible, is among the 100. The firm, owned by Becky Sebright-King, will be producing personalised Small Business Saturday UK biscuits and is hoping to energise the local community to support other local small businesses.

Colchester-based Simply Ruth Ltd, owned by Ruth Smith, is also named. It provides online marketing for micro-businesses and SMEs through delivery or training. For Small Business Saturday, it will be hosting a free digital drop-in with informal networking and training sessions.

Insurance giant AXA, which employs around 1,500 people in Suffolk, is launching a world-wide policy on parental leave which will result in additional time off on full pay for new mothers and fathers within its UK workforce.